President Marcos has signed the Anti-POGO Act of 2025 which bans illegal offshore gaming operations in the Philippines.
Marcos signed Republic Act No. 12312 on Oct. 23, which repeals the law taxing gambling entities known as Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO), which have been linked to multiple criminal acts such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture, even murder.
The new law shall prohibit any person or entity to conduct or offer offshore gaming operations.
Under the law, establishment, operation, or conduct of offshore gaming in the Philippines is prohibited, as well as the acceptance of any form of betting for offshore gaming operation .
Acting as a POGO gaming content provider or POGO service provider, creation and operation of a POGO hub, or introduction, use, or possession of POGO gaming equipment are also banned under the law.
Aiding, protecting, or abetting the conduct of any POGO operations; and registering companies used to conceal offshore gaming operations are likewise prohibited under the law.
The law also implements the revocation of POGO licenses issued by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), special economic zone authorities, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, freepost authorities, and other government agencies.
"They shall immediately wind down their operations not late than the effectivity of this Act," the law stated.
Under the Anti-POGO Act, an Administration Oversight Committee shall be created to oversee the effective implementation of the law.
All POGO buildings, structures, facilities, materials, POGO gaming equipment, and POGO gaming paraphernalia used directly or indirectly in violation of the Act shall be forfeited in favor of the government and may be disposed of in accordance with existing laws.